Post 900 Hike #56: Deep Creek & Tunnel Area

I told Frank March that I could help him with logistics on hikes that he and others needed to qualify for The 900 Mile Association; although I had hiked with him previously, this was the first time that I was a vital cog for logistics (i.e., taking hikers to Fontana Marina in order that they could take a boat close to Campsite 77 to get on Lakeshore Trail and hike latter to the tunnel that goes nowhere). Although originally scheduled for 12/17, rain strongly encouraged us to do the hike on 12/18.

I arrived at Food Lion at 06:50; already waiting there were Cecil Rowe, John Kennerly, Frank March, Dick Ledyard, and a fellow from Cookeville (David Starnes—one whom I had not met); Debbie May arrived shortly thereafter. Although Frank offered to let me drive his Highlander for the trip, I chose to drive my own. Dick and David rode with me; the rest rode with Cecil to the marina. At ~08:35 we completed the 60 mi. trip to the marina. It was at the marina that I realized that (a) John did not need Lakeshore Trail for his second map but did need trails near the hike’s terminus and (b) Cecil basically wanted the hike only as a conditioner since he did not need any of the area trails for his Geezer Map (i.e., >75). After we drove the ~30 mi. to Bryson City, we decided to drive the 2-3 miles to Deep Creek and pick up some trails that John needed for his second map; we would then go to the tunnel that goes nowhere on the other side of Bryson City, do the Tunnel Bypass and Goldmine Loop trails, and then wait for our passengers.

At Deep Creek we did Indian Creek Motor Trail (1.1), Stone Pile Gap (0 .9), Indian Creek (1.6 in & 1.6 out—at this point Cecil went back to his van so he could pick up John at the 1.2 mi. Loop Trail terminus (also the locale of my Highlander). Much to our surprise John and I arrived at this point precisely at the same time that Cecil did. We then drove back to Bryson City and on into the Park in two vehicles.

From the tunnel parking lot we first did the 1.2 mi. Tunnel Bypass trail, then ~0.3 mi. on Lakeshore Trail, then 2 mi. on Goldmine Loop trail, and then 0.4 mi. on Tunnel Bypass trail (i.e., back to the Parking Lot at the end of the tunnel). I had gone ahead of John and Cecil when Goldmine Loop had a bit of up (i.e., ~550 gain in ~0.5 mi.) to get a little aerobic workout. When I reached the 0.4 mi. sign I sped up even more; I’ll swear that this was the longest 0.4 mi. that I have ever hiked.

I had completed the icing of my knee when Cecil and John arrived. It was ~30 min. later that the first of those completing the "boat hike" came out of the tunnel; the rest followed shortly. The consensus was to stop for dinner in Bryson City; because Cecil and I drove, we were treated. On the way back we took U.S. 19 until its junction with U.S. 441 just South of the Park below Cherokee. Believe it was ~21:00 when I arrived home; although I had only hiked in the low teens, I had driven 201 miles.